OK. I think it does have dusky tips. So, the two Little Blue Heron theory
sounds reasonable, and is likely correct. (Not that it matters, but Swinhoe’s
are crested only in breeding condition I think.)
Jeff
On Sep 12, 2017, at 10:22 PM, Tim Janzen <tjanzen@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Jeff,
I am definitely seeing dusky blue coloration in the tips of the wings in both
of Matt’s photos (ML68686611 and ML68686621). That was the first thing that
tipped me off to the possibility that the bird was a Little Blue Heron. When
I reviewed photos of Swinhoe’s Egret online earlier this evening I couldn’t
find any photos that showed dusky blue coloration in the wings. In addition,
Swinhoe’s Egret generally has a crest.
Sincerely,
Tim Janzen
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] On
Behalf Of Jeff Gilligan
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2017 10:07 PM
To: matt.c.cahill@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:matt.c.cahill@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: OBOL Birders Online
Subject: [obol] Re: Malheur Narrows Egrets
Looking at the bird labeled Cattle Egret again, I think it does have dusky
tips to the wings…Correct? Maybe there are two Little Blue Herons there.
On Sep 12, 2017, at 9:22 AM, Matt Cahill <matt.c.cahill@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:matt.c.cahill@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Hi all,
I went and watched the herons and egrets at the Narrows yesterday afternoon
for about an hour. All of the suspect birds were in attendance - the snowy
egret was in the eastern pond, the cattle egret / little blue were in the
small pond between the road sections.
As many have surmised, it's a surprisingly difficult ID on those two small
egrets-herons. There's plenty of photos and comments on plumage already. I'd
add to the discussion, the 'personalities' of the two birds were quite
different. The suspect little blue behaved much more cautiously than the
cattle egret, moving more slowly around the pond and watching the water with
it's neck extended for long periods of time. The cattle egret arrived after
I did, and immediately set forth hunting the pond, covering the same
shoreline as the little blue in a fraction of the time. I watched it
aggressively chase the little blue several times, and bully it for a fish
meal.
Not that individuals of the same species can't have different personalities,
nor to deny the subjectivity involved, but those 'personalities' matched my
expectations for both birds. I spent lots of hours in the Florida Keys
watching little blues and they always appeared coy and bookish. And cattle
egrets, well they can sure seem like bullies to me.
My ebird checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39142883 ;
<http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39142883>
No herons of any species were at the Narrows this morning around 8, but it
was early still. 30+ greater yellowlegs were standing around.
Good birding,
Matt Cahill
Bend
